In the past, health care providers weren't the typical business to lease space in a strip mall, but that could soon change. As Capital Region hospitals consolidate into larger organizations, they are increasingly opening satellites all over the Capital Region.

At this time, most new locations have been housed in more-traditional, stand-alone buildings, or located with physician offices. Albany Medical Center has opened four multi-specialty practice locations within Capital Region medical complexes in the past several years, as well as a joint urgent care center with Saratoga Hospital in Malta.

Another notable hospital expansion came this October, when Ellis Medicine's $10 million care center opened in Clifton Park.

What these brand expansions mean for market diversity, or the lack thereof, among medical providers is a matter of concern from an economic perspective, said Diane Dewar, associate dean for academic affairs at the University at Albany School of Public Health.

"Opening a satellite clinic in an area of need is not a bad thing," Dewar said. "But we need to see the potential that this health system could become so large that there isn't enough competition, and the price for services naturally creeps up because of it."

St. Peter's Hospital opened its 17th laboratory site in December between a nail salon and a deli at Kohl's plaza on Central Avenue. It's the hospital's first shopping-center laboratory.

The new office closes at 4 p.m., but signs illuminating "St. Peter's" stay lit until 10 p.m., and "actually gives us better advertising," said Angela Miczek, director of lab services for St. Peter's Health Partners.

"It's so close to everything, you don't have to make a special trip. People can incorporate it into their day," Miczek said.

Sunnyview and St. Peter's, both part of St. Peter's Health Partners, studied their patient base for where there was a need among patients and, in turn, a business opportunity.

Sunnyview CEO Edward "Chip" Eisenman said a lot of patients traveled from Latham to the main hospital location in Schenectady, which sees about 40,000 patients a year. That was inconvenient, since physical therapy patients typically need services two or three times a week for multiple weeks. Eisenman expects the new location will see about 4,000 patients a year.

Patients can now stop on their way to or from work, said Eisenman, and physically getting inside to see a doctor will be easier. "At a big medical facility, you have to negotiate a big parking lot and an elevator," said Eisenman. "Here, they can park 15 feet from the entrance."

Getting closer to customers through retail-centric realty is a strategy that's "grown tremendously" in the medical business over the past couple years, said Josh Weinkranz, the vice president of leasing for the Northeast region of Kimco Realty. The company owns roughly 900 shopping centers around the country, including Latham Farms.

Kimco Realty's properties have a diverse medical-business mix that includes not only satellite locations of hospitals, but also after-hours pediatric clinics, dialysis centers, insurance-company-operated wellness centers, and most frequently, urgent care clinics, which offer walk-in medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses.

They are welcome tenants, particularly as the business of retail moves online. As book and electronics stores close, a variety of health-related businesses replace them, Weinkranz said.

"The medical businesses are typically more stable tenants," he said. "You can't really see a doctor online, at least not yet."